Nokia Bell Labs, the Finnish vendor’s research division, is working with Saudi energy company Aramaco, owned by Saudi Aramco, are working to develop 5G-related Industry 4.0 cases and proofs for “priority industrial sectors” in Saudi Arabia – and the wider Middle East and Africa region (“and globally”). The pair have signed a “non-binding research and development collaboration agreement”, they said.
It follows the launch of Aramco’s own digital services business, called Aramco Digital Company. A press note specified oil and gas, utilities, mining, manufacturing, and logistics as target sectors. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) sets out to “collaborate on research and development efforts, develop joint proof-of-concept solutions, and validate technologies in real-world deployments”.
Saudi Arabian Oil Group (Aramco), headquartered in Dhahran and largely state-owned, is the second largest company in the world by revenue, with the largest annual profits in global corporate history, and the world’s second-largest crude oil reserves. Its objective is to marry its experience in oil and gas and mining, and related technologies, with Nokia’s expertise in private networks, edge computing, and Industry 4.0.
They want to build a “comprehensive ecosystem for 5G and emerging technologies” in key sectors. “This [deal is] a major step towards digitalizing our industries and transforming our national talent capabilities. Together, we aim to foster a culture of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our industrial sectors during this Industry 4.0 era,” said Nabil Nuaim, vice president of digital and IT at Aramco.
Thierry Klein, president of solutions research at Nokia Bell Labs, said: “This collaboration… reflects our commitment to driving innovation and jointly developing advanced industrial use cases with world-leading ecosystem partners. Together, we will accelerate the digital transformation of industries providing new technologies for a safer, more productive and more sustainable future.”
